Film ReviewsPatch Town: good INGREDIENTS, still just cabbage soup
Oct 23, 2015 Anchorage Press
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![Picture](/uploads/6/2/4/2/6242755/published/10-22-15-film-image-webb.jpg?1560806640)
The film Patch Town written and directed by Craig Goodwill has all the right ingredients for a cult classic; but as all good cooks know, ingredients-no matter how pristine-are not enough to make a great dish. The Spanish term sazón refers to that "it" that makes a good dish delicious, and a delicious dish sublime. The word itself loses impact when translated simply as "seasoning" because its meaning is much more. To have sazón or cook al sazón means that the integrity of ingredients, the recipe, timing, experience, instinct, and magic are all in perfect balance so that meal is unforgettable.
Patch Town strives to strike a similar balance by bringing together a good story line and rich cinematography to deliver the dystopian story of where dolls come from. As it turns out, they are really babies born in a cabbage patch who are then turned into dolls and sent out into the real world to form bonds with children who of course outgrow them. Through an unfortunate turn of events, what was originally a benevolent idea turns evil Ta da! The problem is that while Goodwill has a good recipe, it lacks sazón-never quite striking a balance that makes the film memorable, even if it is enjoyable. The story is easily understood, but it's not tight, the visuals are delightful but their impact falls short; for example, the visual of the storks flying around a grim, industrial doll factory is striking, but it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense if one thinks it through. The film includes other elements that are compelling and full of potential, like the Soviet-era iconography, echoes of Eastern European folklore, Nazi-like fashion sense, and an overzealous-albeit stereotypical and eccentric-Indian driver.
The movie reminds viewers of similar films of this same fantastical ilk, most notably City of Lost Children, the 1995 French film by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, down to key props, and the evil character with aquiline features and an insatiable need to be loved even if he has to torture people into it. The characters in Patch Town never reach the depth of human emotions that made City of Lost Children a masterpiece, which is a shame because Patch Town has a solid cast. Ken Hall gives an amazing performance as "Kenny," Yuri, the evil factory owner's right hand and evildoer. And, not only can the actors act, they can also sing, bringing a Dancer in the Dark type of feel to the plot, and then again-no sazón, in spite of great voices and nice tunes.
The Anchorage Press reached out to director Goodwill to understand the Patch Town dish.
Patch Town was a short film before you made it into a feature film. Where can viewers see the short version?
It premiered at Toronto International and won the directors guild award it can be seen on the DVD specials.
Why did you decide to make it into a feature film? What are key differences and similarities between the two?
I had always intended on making it a feature but wanted to set up a test case for it. The short was 27 minutes long so it gave you an idea of the story but missed the journey, the feature explores the journey.
Many aspects of the film, its fantastical story line, texture, saturated colors and overall cinematography remind me of films like Delicatessen and City of Lost Children. Were these a point of reference or influences for you in any way?
Yes. Very much so. I wanted to create a film from my childhood. Something fantastical. Terry Gilliam and Brazil were also references. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang also had an influence. I wanted to create an old Disney-style film which I always found a bit scary as a kid.
What were your thoughts in incorporating the musical elements? Where these present in the short film?
They were present in the short. I used music because it gave me an opportunity to express our main characters grief and pain. And because I was creating a whole new world there was a lot of exposition to get across and I didn't want to put it in a voice over or add additional scenes because of our tight budget.
For viewers, Patch Town may be an enjoyable way to pass the time watching a flick that is different and offers a respite from what is currently in main stream theaters. Unfortunately, the tension required for the story to succeed never reaches a height, it fizzles out. Patch Town has good ingredients but they never reach their sazón, leaving them unable to transcend beyond cabbage soup.
Patch Town shows on Monday, October 26 at 7:40 p.m. at Bear Tooth
Patch Town strives to strike a similar balance by bringing together a good story line and rich cinematography to deliver the dystopian story of where dolls come from. As it turns out, they are really babies born in a cabbage patch who are then turned into dolls and sent out into the real world to form bonds with children who of course outgrow them. Through an unfortunate turn of events, what was originally a benevolent idea turns evil Ta da! The problem is that while Goodwill has a good recipe, it lacks sazón-never quite striking a balance that makes the film memorable, even if it is enjoyable. The story is easily understood, but it's not tight, the visuals are delightful but their impact falls short; for example, the visual of the storks flying around a grim, industrial doll factory is striking, but it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense if one thinks it through. The film includes other elements that are compelling and full of potential, like the Soviet-era iconography, echoes of Eastern European folklore, Nazi-like fashion sense, and an overzealous-albeit stereotypical and eccentric-Indian driver.
The movie reminds viewers of similar films of this same fantastical ilk, most notably City of Lost Children, the 1995 French film by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, down to key props, and the evil character with aquiline features and an insatiable need to be loved even if he has to torture people into it. The characters in Patch Town never reach the depth of human emotions that made City of Lost Children a masterpiece, which is a shame because Patch Town has a solid cast. Ken Hall gives an amazing performance as "Kenny," Yuri, the evil factory owner's right hand and evildoer. And, not only can the actors act, they can also sing, bringing a Dancer in the Dark type of feel to the plot, and then again-no sazón, in spite of great voices and nice tunes.
The Anchorage Press reached out to director Goodwill to understand the Patch Town dish.
Patch Town was a short film before you made it into a feature film. Where can viewers see the short version?
It premiered at Toronto International and won the directors guild award it can be seen on the DVD specials.
Why did you decide to make it into a feature film? What are key differences and similarities between the two?
I had always intended on making it a feature but wanted to set up a test case for it. The short was 27 minutes long so it gave you an idea of the story but missed the journey, the feature explores the journey.
Many aspects of the film, its fantastical story line, texture, saturated colors and overall cinematography remind me of films like Delicatessen and City of Lost Children. Were these a point of reference or influences for you in any way?
Yes. Very much so. I wanted to create a film from my childhood. Something fantastical. Terry Gilliam and Brazil were also references. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang also had an influence. I wanted to create an old Disney-style film which I always found a bit scary as a kid.
What were your thoughts in incorporating the musical elements? Where these present in the short film?
They were present in the short. I used music because it gave me an opportunity to express our main characters grief and pain. And because I was creating a whole new world there was a lot of exposition to get across and I didn't want to put it in a voice over or add additional scenes because of our tight budget.
For viewers, Patch Town may be an enjoyable way to pass the time watching a flick that is different and offers a respite from what is currently in main stream theaters. Unfortunately, the tension required for the story to succeed never reaches a height, it fizzles out. Patch Town has good ingredients but they never reach their sazón, leaving them unable to transcend beyond cabbage soup.
Patch Town shows on Monday, October 26 at 7:40 p.m. at Bear Tooth